Miss-Delectable

Windsor man learns how to train deaf dog | WindsorBeacon.com | The Windsor Beacon

One Windsor resident knows the true meaning of “jumping through hoops” for his beloved canine.

Eric Melvin and his 4-year-old Australian cattle dog, Angelyne, have inspired and touched the hearts of many with their talent and natural abilities.

What truly makes their relationship unique is that Angelyne is deaf. She interacts with Melvin in a completely different way than most dogs with normal hearing.

Despite what appears to be a comfortable, warm relationship, Melvin is quick to point out that their interaction didn’t come easily.

Melvin said he wasn’t aware of Angelyne’s condition when they first partnered. He just knew his dog was struggling to learn simple commands as a puppy.

“I took her to puppy kindergarten class and she wasn’t getting it,” Melvin said Tuesday. “So I stayed after class to talk to the instructor. She said it (deafness) was common in this breed and suggested I take her to get looked at by a vet.”

A local vet diagnosed Angelyne as deaf at 13 weeks old.

“My vet laid some options out for me on how to train her,” Melvin said. “I filtered a lot of information from everything. There was a lot of trial and error since there’s no bible or book for training a deaf dog. I came up with a very unique set of hand signals and found out the more simple the better.”

Since then, Angelyne has come a long way in her training. She currently knows 40 nonverbal and hand commands including sit, stay and come, plus others such as how to jump through hoops and how to retrieve a treat off her nose and paws.

With their talents, the two travel to special events including nonprofit organizations, fundraisers, schools, churches, youth organizations, correctional facilities, senior centers and more to share their unique bond through presentations.

Melvin hopes to bring awareness to the community through these presentations.

“I’m trying to draw awareness for people with special needs or people who have special-needs animals,” he said. “That’s my main goal for doing this. I also want to start a foundation that will go into the community.”

The next presentation the pair will give is Dec. 4 at the Rocky Mountain Deaf School in Golden. The pair will do a special presentation for the student body and staff.

“This will probably be the most important (presentation) up to date,” Melvin said. “It goes hand in hand with the school. I hope to inspire them (the kids) as they’ve inspired me. I would also like to let them know anything is possible and everyone has a purpose.

“If you can see a dog with special needs that got a second chance, hopefully, someone will take a second chance on them,” he said.

Melvin lost his job a month ago and has found a new life’s purpose working to bring awareness to the community through Angelyne.

However, to continue to do so he is asking for the community’s help.

“Most of the events we do are with nonprofit organizations that can’t always pay us,” he said. “How do I say no and still receive financial support? I still have to be able to drive to these presentations.”

Melvin has already received in-kind donations and support from local businesses.

“We really appreciate your help,” he said. “Hopefully, people will see it (what the pair does) as good work and continue this mission because it’s magic.”

According to Melvin, a lot of people don’t have the patience or the compassion to work with dogs like Angelyne who need special care to function well in society.

“We do our best work for inspiring people and to make them smile,” he said. “I think when you have a gift, you have to get it out.

“Plus, it takes a special hand to make something happen. Hopefully, this will be an ongoing thing for me. That would be great.”

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"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."
- Helen Keller

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